Static diving wireless control power model submarine

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a static diving wireless control power model submarine that includes at least one air-sealed compartment having a specific volume for filling and discharging water, and the static diving wireless control power model submarine improves the draft of the submarine and provides an external hull with an artistic and hydrodynamic hull and an air-sealed internal hull for containing all necessary equipments and components. The internal hull is a tubular air-sealed compartment without any opening on its lateral sides, and the only openings are two flanges installed at prow and poop of the model submarine respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a model submarine, and moreparticularly to a static diving wireless control power model submarinehaving a double-layer hull and featuring a modular structure and asimplified assembling process.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a wireless control power system usually has two mainfeatures: a model (such as a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, an airplane, ahelicopter or a ship with variable retardations) that can be removed andmanufactured with an appropriate proportion similar to life scale. Themotor vehicle model so produced can move in a fast speed or make turnsand brakes quickly; and the airplane model so produced can fly in theair and complete all kinds of motions in the air. The second feature isthat the model can be controlled at a remote end through a wirelessdevice.

The diving power system so produced should have the same functions withthe diving machines capable of sailing and diving in the sea, floatingabove water surface or performing a submarine navigation. In addition,the diving power system should have a wireless control device such as awireless remote drive to accomplish a non-contact connection between themodel and its operator.

The diving power system has the features of sailing on water surface aswell as performing a submarine navigation under water. The majordifficulty for diving in water and floating above water surface resideson the requirement for one or more air-sealed compartments equipped withelectric devices (including electric machinery and battery) andelectronic devices (such as wireless receiver and multi-functionalelectronic devices).

In addition, appropriate equipments are needed for diving in the sea orfloating above water surface, and these equipments may come withdifferent shapes, and the shape of these equipments is one of the majorfactors to determine the structural characteristics of the model.

Like most submarines, this model can have two options: having asingle-layer hull or a double-layer hull.

In a first case, the model has a single-layer hull with a wholeair-sealed body to protect the internal components from being submergedinto water to minimize the water from entering while taking thehydrodynamic and artistic concept into consideration to give good lookfor its appearance.

In a second case, a double-layer external hull model has a double-layerhull, and water can flow freely in the external hull, in addition tohaving the artistic and hydrodynamic advantages. A second layer of thehull is disposed in a first layer of the hull to define an air-sealedhull, and all components and devices are installed in the hull.

The structure of the model (with either a single-layer hull or adouble-layer hull) is selected in advanced, and all diving models havetwo different diving ways: a dynamic diving and a static diving.

In the dynamic diving, the diving goes through a motive power actiononly, and the surface of its level has a large quantity of water(referring to the level helm). In this case, the model shows a“positive” trim, and thus requires an empty tank and a specific weight,so that the model is lighter than water and floats in water. If thespeed is fast enough, the model can dive by the action of the levelhelm, and the maximum diving depth is equal to several decimeters innormal conditions. To maintain this depth, the model must travel in acertain specific speed. Once the model stops, the dynamic divingsubmarine model will float above water.

On the other hand, a static diving model is similar to a real-lifesubmarine having an internal air-sealed compartment which is called aballast tank and can fill or discharge water by means of its internalequipments, so that the full or empty tank contains a different quantityof water to change the weight of the model, so as to change the floatingcondition of the model and offset the forces directly to give a“negative” trim.

If the quantity of water entering the ballast tank is large enough, thenthe weight of the model will exceed the buoyancy to give a downwardthrust, so that the model can dive into water, and such result is notrelated to the speed of the traveling model.

Theoretically, there is no upper limit for the diving depth, if thestrength of the structure of the air-sealed tank is strong enough.

Of course, the change of the trim of a static diving model is much morecomplicated than that of a dynamic diving model, and thus it requiresthe system to change the trim. The trim is “negative” when the modeldives into water and “positive” when the model floats above water.

The water tank comes with a hard and solid wall for receiving or fillingwater, and the water tank could be a cylindrical body or a leather baghaving a variable volume, and it also can be a water bag or a rubber bagwith changeable shape.

The motive power system could be a gear pump, a compressor pump, anelectric machine or other system for storing and compressing air or coalgas.

The submarine model is described as follows. There are various differentmodels of dynamic diving submarine models in the market, but no finishedproducts of the wireless control static diving submarine model are foundyet. The main reason resides on the extreme complexity of such model,and thus experienced model technicians and special tools are requiredfor its manufacture and production.

The major difficulty resides on the production of an air-sealedstructure, and some require waterproof openings, and some requireoutlets for installing an axle of a propeller, withdrawing a rudder, andinstalling an ignition switch. The dynamic diving system should have aplug and a tube and a tube connector for connecting a ballast tank and apump (or an exhaust system).

To prevent leakages that may cause damages to the model, themanufacturing process requires extreme cares.

Opening the air-sealed structure for routine maintenance and operation,charging the battery, and other internal operation of the model arebasic operations.

In general, the wireless control static diving submarine model isusually made by a model technician, and the processes from materialselection to manufacture (such as the plastic tube) must be incompliance with the desired requirements.

Some manufacturers pack semi-finished products of the models into acarton, but these materials are basic materials only, and modeltechnicians have to adjust the components, punch holes (if needed),solder metal components, add air-sealed ring and apply oil, etc.

The manufacturing process is predictable most situations, but asuccessful manufacture surely depends on the experience of the modeltechnicians.

The sealed portion of the air-sealed compartment requires a plug (a plugcauses a certain pressure when the plug is inserted, and thus the plugis applicable for the O-ring or other detachable portions) connected toa distal end of the tube or the screw bolt connector and the air-sealedO-ring are installed at the prow or poop.

In some models, portions immerged in water, doors for the inlets ofair-sealed compartments, or panels are fixed by screw bolts, and thestrength of the screw bolts depends on the manufacturing process, thematerial preparation and the skill of related tools.

In general, a dynamic diving submarine model is relatively simpler thana static diving submarine model, and the manufacture requires simplertools such as a polishing emery wheel, and thus providing better safety.The dynamic diving submarine model requires a constant position trim, sothat the submarine model can float above water after the trim ischanged.

The diving depth of the static diving submarine model can be at most 2meters and the average length of the static diving submarine falls inthe range from 100 cm to 150 cm.

There are many different models of dynamic diving submarine modelsavailable in the market, but no finish products of the wireless controlstatic diving submarine model are found yet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of theinvention based on years of experience in the related industry toconduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally invented astatic diving wireless control power model submarine in accordance withthe present invention.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to providea feasible solution and overcome the foregoing problems by providing adiving wireless control submarine model that can be manufactured moreeasily. Even inexperience model technicians can produce the model easilywithout requiring the use of complicated tools and mechanicalcomponents.

Further, the present invention provides a static diving wireless controlsubmarine model that has an air-sealed structure with some openings, andthe implementation is much easier and can pass the water permeationtest.

Further, the invention produces a series of finished goods of the staticdiving wireless control submarine models.

Further, the invention makes the maintenance of a static diving wirelesscontrol submarine model more convenient.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides astatic diving wireless control submarine model as described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objective, shape, structure, characteristic and effect of thepresent invention will now be described in more detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of theinvention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a static diving wireless control submarinemodel of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a submarine model of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a submarine model of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of a submarine model of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a longitudinal portion of asubmarine model and the layout of an internal management area, internalelectric components and hydraulic pressure components according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a longitudinal portion of asubmarine model according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an internal hull of asubmarine model showing the change from Section A-A to Section Q-Qaccording to the present invention; and

FIGS. 8 to 22 are cross-sectional view of an internal hull of asubmarine model showing the change from Section A-A to Section Q-Q asdepicted in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The static diving wireless control submarine model is illustrated by thefollowing preferred embodiment.

In an internal hull, the air-sealed compartment uses plastic tubes witha length of 340 mm, an internal diameter of 123 mm, and an externaldiameter of 133 mm (and the dimensions are provided for illustrationpurpose only), and both ends of the air-sealed compartment includesopenings.

The tube is an integral tube without any opening on the sidewall of thetube.

With these features, openings are drilled manually on the hull and usedfor transmitting the rudder or other functions, and thus causingtroubles to the model manufacturers. In addition to the skillful boringtechniques, it is also very difficult to create the air-sealed openings.On the other hand, the present invention omits all openings on thelateral surface of the hull, and simply requires an integral tube, andthus its installation is very simple, easy and cost-effective, and theinvention is suitable for industrial productions.

Further, the materials for making the tube and plug are transparent, soas to make the inspection of the overall operating conditions and theoperating conditions of each component very easy.

All openings required for the hull and other necessary functionalcomponents are installed on both ends of the flanges (such as the flange12 and flange 13 installed respectively on both ends of the tubularair-sealed compartment 11).

In this embodiment, the flange has a thickness of 50 mm, an internaldiameter of 100 mm, and an external diameter of 170 mm. A certain taperexists along the lengthwise diameter that facilitates its installationon both ends of the tube, and there are two air-sealed rings 48, 49 aswell.

To facilitate the manufacture, the flanges 12, 13 are identical.

To assure the air-sealed connection of the air-sealed rings 48, 49between the flanges 12, 13 and the tubular air-sealed compartment 11,the air-sealed ring includes four screw rods 14, and an appropriatetension screw nut installed at the front end of the flange, and the fourscrew rods 14 are disposed outside the tubular air-sealed compartment 11for supporting an external component 15, and the external component 15is fixed to an external hull 17 and a ballast tank 16 as shown in FIG.3.

As described above, all openings are centralized at the flanges 12, 13,and the flange 12 has three holes 21, 22, 23, and the other flange 13also has three holes 24, 25, 26.

More particularly, the hole 21 is an air-sealed outlet used for theelectric cable of a camera 27; the holes 22, 23 are used for the controlrod to open or close the air-sealed tank 84 (which is a primaryair-sealed tank and the other one is an auxiliary air-sealed tank).Further, the holes 24, 25 are used for the control of the level helms80, 81 and the rudder 82, and the hole 26 is used for a water intakedevice 85.

All of the foregoing holes come with an axis disposed on a planeperpendicular to the external hull and will not be protruded from theflanges 12, 13, and thus facilitating the die-casing and shaping.

The channels of the switch axle and rudder axle pass through the O-ring,and the water intake device 85 and the camera electric cable areconnectors (which can be tuned according to the type of the cameraconnector).

Two holes are disposed on an internal surface of the flange and theair-sealed compartment 11 for fixing a second structure, and the hull isan independent hull for installing all necessary mechanical andelectronic equipments.

Two circular plugs are disposed on an external surface of the flanges12, 13, and the plugs 30, 31 have a wall thickness of 8 mm and the plugsare made of a transparent material (such as polycarbonate), and the plug30 is disposed at the prow and the plug 31 is disposed at the poop.

The plug 31 at the poop has a central hole 32 for passing an axle of apropeller 33 and the plug 30 at the prow is very smooth and flat forfacilitating the installation of the camera 27 without hindering itsvision.

Two plugs 30, 31 are fixed onto the flanges 12, 13 by six M6 screw bolts34 and the screw bolts 34 are sealed by an O-ring, and the head of thescrew bolt 34 is embedded into the groove of the flange to secure ascrew nut.

The air-sealed system guarantees a safety seal within the depth of 5meters, but the diving depth should not exceed 5 meters in any case,since the radio signals cannot be received at the depth beyond 5 meters.Further, it is not necessary to apply grease, silicone or othermaterials.

In general maintenance and operations, six screw nuts 34 on a prow plug30 of the air-sealed compartment can be unscrewed easily to show theconnectors of a primary battery 79, a fuse 98, a camera 27, and anignition switch, and an LED abnormal signal alarm is included forobserving this signal through the transparent plug.

Generally speaking, the prow plug 30 can be removed without removingother components. Most importantly, the removal and installation arevery simple and easy; and all operations are reversible because noadhesive has been used for the installation process.

All components including the tube, plug, flange, and screw rod arefinished goods made according to industrial standards and easyaccessible manufacturing processes.

As to the support structure of the internal components, the presentinvention adopts a modular design, so that the hull and internalcomponents get separate supports, and both installation and removal arevery simple, and all components can be produced according to industrialstandards more easily.

Six vertical ribs 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 are provided for mounting theinternal structure on the tubular air-sealed compartment 11 and four M4screw rods 50, 51, 52 are provided for maintaining a constant intervalby isolating members 53, 54, 55, 56.

The aforementioned features make the manufacture of all components withindustrial standards and their installation much easier. Before thefinal assembling process is carried out, all mechanical components andelectronic components (such as a current loop, a pump, a wirelessreceiver servo controller and an electronic component) are installed onthe rib.

After the final assembling process is completed, the partitions areopened for passing the electric cable 59 and fluid tubes and fixing the12-volt battery 79 onto a rectangular plane.

To further simplify the installation, some components are moved to twoseparate stands 61, 62, so that the components 63, 64, 54, 65 aregrouped integrally and fixed onto the flange by screw bolts, and thusthey can be removed without removing the whole air-sealed hull. Sucharrangement is very helpful for maintenance and repair.

A battery charger connector, a certain electric cable, a camera 27 and afuse are fixed at the front end of the stand 61.

A servo control 90 of the rudder 82 and a servo control of the levelhelms 80, 81 are fixed to the rear end of the stand 62.

As to the internal components, a bag 70 is filled with air by a pump 71which is controlled by an automatic failure-resisting relay circuit (tocheck whether or not there is no radio signal, whether or not there iswater, whether or not the diving bag is over pressurized, and whether ornot the battery is too low).

The control circuit of an electric machinery of the propeller 73utilizes an electronic speed modulator 72, and two circuits and theservo control of two rudders are connected to a wireless receiver 97.

The internal components also include a color battery with a chargeablebattery, an electric connector and a water pipe connector, etc.

The design of the external hull definitely has the artistic andhydrodynamic advantages, and the external hull can be divided into fiveportions and made of a plastic material. The prow is comprised of atransparent circular top 91, a right lateral side 92, a left lateralside 93, and a poop cone 94 having a small tower 95 at the top, and eachportion does not come with any complicated protrusions for facilitatingthe die-casing and shaping. The transparent ABS material used allowsusers to freely paint the model according to their personal preference,so that a front top and a porthole 96 can be transparent, and theporthole is disposed at an appropriate position convenient for users toview from the outside to the inside and check whether or not theinternal components in the air-sealed compartment are operated normally.

The external hull 17 is fixed onto the flange and the middle cabinetwall of the internal hull by screw bolts to form a cylindrical body witha diameter of 170 m along the lengthwise direction, and such diameter islarge enough to precisely cover the internal hull.

Each part of the external hull can be removed or installed easily, andparticularly the conical portion of the prow can be removed andinstalled very easily, so that it can pass through the front end of theplug more easily.

In summation, the present invention has the following features andadvantages:

The structure of the static diving wireless control power modelsubmarine and the double-layer hull are designed according to industrialstandards for an easy installation, and thus even inexperienced modelmanufacturers can complete the assembling process.

The major features are listed below:

A. The static diving wireless control power model submarine is equippedwith a ballast bag and an air pump.

B. In the structure of the double-layer hull, water can flow freely inthe external hull, and thus having the artistic and hydrodynamicadvantages.

C. All components of the air-sealed compartment can be removed andinstalled easily, and all components can be produced easily, since theyare designed according to the industrial design and assemblingstandards.

D. The modular structure in the air-sealed compartment supports andfixes the mechanical components and electric components according tostandard layouts and thus it is convenient to install the model.

E. In the whole assembling process, it is not necessary to go throughthe boring process, cutting process and adhering process, so as to avoidthe shattered pieces that may damage the sealed portion.

F. All seals have a rubber washer (or O-ring) and some screw bolts andscrew nuts, and such arrangement requires no skillful professionalpersonnel to accomplish (but any adhering method or painting processrequires skillful profession people to finish the job).

G. The model having a level helm can be used for the dynamic divingmodel, and the trim is “positive” when the diving model starts diving.

H. The model adopts electric machinery and forward propeller.

I. The camera is installed at the prow and connected to a display deviceon the ground through an air-sealed electric cable.

J. In Italy/European Union, the signal transmission of a mini cameraallows users to use a radio frequency that will not penetrate water, andthus an electric cable is used for the connection instead, and theelectric cable can be removed.

L. The total length is approximately 70 cm.

M. The weight is 6750 g above water surface and 7000 g in the water.

In the aforementioned Points A, C, D, E and F, modifications are needed,since they no longer comply with the current development trend andmarket requirements of the submarine model anymore.

It is also necessary to modify Point I, and the mechanical parts (suchas the support base and transparent plug) are connected with a powersupply in an air-sealed manner, so that the electric cable can beinstalled to the exterior of the power supply easily.

The design concept of the model completely follows the assemblingstandards, and it applies for all processes from selecting components tousing the model, and thus no special installation skill or complicatedtool is needed for the installation.

The general tools used for the installation include a hexagonal wrench,a brugola and a screwdriver.

In summation of the description above, the object, shape, structure ofthe present invention are novel and the invention improves over theprior art and thus is duly submitted for the patent application. Whilethe invention has been described by means of specific embodiments,modifications and variations could be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forthin the claims.

1. A static diving wireless control power model submarine, comprising:an internal space, for filling and discharging water to change afloating level of said model; an external hull, with artistic andhydrodynamic advantages; an internal hull, for containing internalequipments and components; and an air-sealed compartment, substantiallyin a tubular form, and having no opening disposed on lateral surface,but having necessary openings disposed at front and rear ends of aflange.
 2. The static diving wireless control power model submarine ofclaim 1, wherein said openings disposed on said flange have an axis on aplane perpendicular to an axis of said hull, and said flange does notcome with a complicated protruding shape.
 3. The static diving wirelesscontrol power model submarine of claims 1 or 2, wherein said two flangesare identical.
 4. The static diving wireless control power modelsubmarine of claim 2 or 3, further comprising a screw rod and a tensioncrew nut, such that said tension screw nut is embedded into a flange,and said screw rod and said air-sealed compartment support a rib at themiddle rib and fix said external hull and said ballast tank.
 5. Thestatic diving wireless control power model submarine of the foregoingclaims, wherein said internal hull is an independent structure, and allmechanical components and electronic components on said equipments arecoupled to an internal structure and said flange.
 6. The static divingwireless control power model submarine of claim 5, wherein said internalstructure is comprised of a plurality of vertical ribs coupled with eachother through a screw rod and maintains a fixed interval by an isolatingcomponent.
 7. The static diving wireless control power model submarineof the foregoing claims, wherein said flange includes two circular plugsdisposed on an external surface of said flange and made of a transparentmaterial, and said plug at a poop has a central hole for passing an axleof a propeller, and said plug at a prow is very smooth and flat forinstalling a camera without hindering its visual sight.
 8. The staticdiving wireless control power model submarine of claim 7, wherein saidtwo plugs are fixed separately by a screw bolt, and the head of eachscrew bolt is embedded into said flange for securing said screw nut andfacilitating the maintenance of equipments and the installation andremoval of said screw nuts at said plug of said prow.
 9. The staticdiving wireless control power model submarine of the foregoing claims,wherein said components on said stand are mounted onto said flange andcan be removed without requiring a removal the whole of said air-sealedcompartment.
 10. The static diving wireless control power modelsubmarine of claim 9, wherein said stand has a battery charger, anelectric cable connector, a camera connector and a, fuse connectordisposed at the front of said stand and a rudder and a servo control ofa level helm disposed at the rear of said stand.
 11. The static divingwireless control power model submarine of the foregoing claims, whereinsaid flange includes an outlet used for said electric cable of saidcamera, a hole used for an ignition switch, a hole used for the controlof said level helm and said rudder, and a hole used for the intake ofwater.
 12. The static diving wireless control power model submarine ofthe foregoing claims, wherein said external hull is comprised of fiveportions, each portion being cast and shaped easily with artistic andhydrodynamic advantages.
 13. The static diving wireless control powermodel submarine of claim 12, wherein said external hull is fixed with amiddle partition panel by said crew bolt and said flange.